Hogg Robinson Group was a business active in the insurance and latterly the corporate travel management sectors. It was acquired by American Express Global Business Travel in July 2018.

History

Hogg Robinson Group was established in 1845, by brothers in law Francis Hogg, a young wine merchant, and Augustus Robinson, an insurance broker. The partnership developed mercantile and insurance interests from offices in Birchin Lane in the

City of London The City of London, also known as ''the City'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county and Districts of England, local government district with City status in the United Kingdom, city status in England. It is the Old town, his ...

. Its travel business was established after

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. By 1984, it was one of the four largest travel agency operators in the United Kingdom, and included the chains ''Wakefield Fortune'' and ''Blue Star'', as well as the shops of Hogg Robinson. In June 1993, the retail division was sold to Airtours (later MyTravel Group). Airtours merged it with Pickfords Travel, acquired by Airtours from

Pickfords Pickfords is a moving company based in the United Kingdom, part of Pickfords Move Management Ltd. The business is believed to have been founded in the 17th century, making it one of the UK's oldest functioning companies, although the similar S ...

in September 1992, to form Going Places (later

Thomas Cook Group Thomas Cook Group plc was a global travel group, headquartered in the United Kingdom and listed on the London Stock Exchange from its formation on 19 June 2007 by the merger of Thomas Cook AG — successor to Thomas Cook & Son — and ...

). In 1997, new chairman Neville Bain led the sale of Hogg Robinson's transport division and the acquisition of two business travel operations. In June 1998, it acquired 51% of Rider Travel of Canada. In June 2000, chief executive David Radcliffe led a £232 million management buyout funded by Schroder Ventures (now

Permira Permira Holdings Limited is a British global investment firm specialised in buyouts, growth funds, equity funds, and credit funds. Founded in 1985 as part of Schroders, it became independent in 1996. Operating as Permira since 2001, the company ...

). Hogg Robinson divested of various of its insurance broking businesses in 2001. In October 2006, the company expanded in

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and most populous municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the most populous municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of 2024, it is estimated that the population of the H ...

. In April 2007, the company expanded its office space in

Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 United ...

. In March 2012, the company acquired Spendvision. In February 2015, it was rebranded as Fraedom. In May 2017, the company acquired eWings.com, a travel management company for small to medium sized companies. In February 2018, the company sold Fraedom to Visa Inc. for $195 million. On July 19, 2018, American Express Global Business Travel acquired the company for approximately £400 million. The Hogg Robinson name remains in active use in Nigeria, where the 1974 establishment of Hogg Robinson Nigeria Limited is now operating independently of the former UK parent and continues as an insurance broker.

References

{{Authority control British companies disestablished in 2018 Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange British companies established in 1845 Permira companies